Militarism. Flashcards
Why was the Entente Cordiale formed?
One reason that militarism was a catalyst for WW1 was the fact that France and Britain were intimidated by Germany’s expanding naval fleet.
Explain the relevance of Dreadnoughts.
Dreadnoughts were a ship that surpassed all of the previous ships’ abilities. Building Dreadnoughts meant that the military of that country would be significantly stronger. Britain started building them and a race began to build the most Dreadnoughts. This was a way to prove military strength, and both jumped at the chance. This is a prime example of militarism causing WW1, as both countries could not resist preparing for war and attempting to intimidate the other. An intense rivalry followed to build the biggest navy.
Explain militarism that occurred in Russia and Serbia.
Russia and Serbia attempted to stand up to Austria-Hungary and Germany in 1908-9, and was intimidated by their military strength. However, from the Balkan Wars of 1912-13, Serbia emerged victorious. This was incredibly intimidating. Serbia and Russia now felt as though they stood a chance against the countries they once were intimidated by. Resentment may have run rampant amongst Serbians and Russians, and this may have worsened the hate between Austria-Hungary and Serbia. This makes it more likely that a war would take place. Therefore, since militarism spreads resentment and fear, it may have played a role in causing WW1.
Explain the relevance of the Schlieffen plan.
Since Kaiser Wilhelm II prioritised the military over discussing issues rationally, he formed a plan that involved fighting Russia on one front and France on the other. The plan was to quickly knock out France, who was quicker to prepare, via Belgium, then travel to Paris, then to Russia, who would take weeks to mobilise. This is why there was no negotiations, as the focus was on the military.
Explain the threat of militarism.
Nations saw their military strength as relative- meaning it depended on neighbouring nations. Therefore, as Germany’s military strengthened, countries such as France and Britain had to be prepared. Eventually, these resources would be pushed to fight. Having the means to wage war makes the aggression and likelihood much more likely.
